Untitled (men in front of fire department) 1915

Editor: This photograph by Hamblin Studio, titled "Untitled (men in front of fire department)," shows a large group of men posed in front of what appears to be a fire station. The image has a formal, almost staged quality. What do you make of it? Curator: Notice how the firemen are all lined up, rigid, facing forward, reminiscent of a classical frieze. What collective identity is being performed here, and how does it draw on cultural memory? Editor: I guess they are all standing in front of the fire trucks! Curator: Indeed. The fire truck symbolizes the community's resilience, the promise of order against chaos. Does the photograph evoke a sense of security or perhaps, a latent threat of disruption? Editor: It really does make me think about how community members help each other. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Looking at images opens our minds to the ideas and feelings behind them.